“My cue ball isn’t separating” : The FOUR things to check before buying anything or calling Tech Support
This bent bar is used
only to separate
oversized cue balls. You
may not even need it.
1) Valley invented and
patented the magnetic cue
ball separator nearly 50
years ago. Confirm that the
cue balls used with your
table are magnetic and
have not been swapped out.
Any good magnet (even
those on the fridge) will
react and be drawn to a
magnetic cue ball
2) Open the table’s Ball View
Door and check the ball return path,
the MAGNET HOLDER (orange arrow
- could be wooden or plastic) holds
the SEPARATION MAGNET. With
“something metal and magnetic”
like a long screwdriver, test if the
magnet still has power to draw the
cue ball. Magnets take a while to
lose strength, but eventually will
need replaced
3) The magnet
holder needs to mounted
flush as shown here. Too
far into the return path
and the magnet cannot
draw the cue ball over.
Too far away from the
path and ALL balls may
route through the cue ball
return and not go into the
trap.
4) If the magnet
holder is flush as shown,
but the cue ball still rolls
toward the trap after
passing the magnet,
check the LONG RAIL
(blue arrow) for wear.
Remember, balls passing
over these rails for
decades will wear them
out.
If you E-Mail Valley Tech support they will ask if you’ve tried these steps (as they will help clear up most simple separation
issues). It’s like when you call computer tech support, these steps are “did you shut it off and turn it back on again?”
Also, make sure to note if your separation issue is ALL THE TIME or OCCASIONAL. – it makes a difference